The 'Education of Achilles by Chiron' painted by Jean-Baptiste Regnault, which Watson has admired in the Louvre Museum provides the ideal metaphor for the sentiment behind Watson's most recent, major painting.
"I found Alexis on Instagram, and he modeled in his uniform for the gay rugby team, the Kings Cross Steelers in London. Unlike the curated 'good' version of life so often presented on social media, I was impressed by his candid posts, including experiencing anxiety, depression and self doubt, and I thought he's helping reduce stigma and educate so many. This helped me in the composition of painting to depict the theme of education." wrote Watson.
In contrast to Chiron and Achilles who are engaged in a lesson of archery, Alexis engages us - Watson's reminder of a contemporary audience and the activism and education of Alexis' Instagram followers.
Emerald green and Prussian blue fabric offer an important counter balance to the overall composition, and Watson's masterful placement integrates Alexis as part of the group and offers a provocative and convincing scene where modern meets classical.
"I have been a proud collector of Ross' paintings for many years. His art is astounding in its beauty, emotion, and reverence for our humanity and the world we live in. His attention to the smallest details, and use of light, dark and colour, rivals art's greatest masters." James J. O'Donnell, Patron, art collector, NYC
"We are loving our new acquisition and we know that 'Nathan, view to Florence' will bring us endless years of joy. Thanks for sharing your talent. We love your work so keep it up!" Paul Zahra and Duncan Peerman, Sydney
"As avid art collectors we are very proud to have Ross' stunningly handsome work in our collection. His art brings us great joy and we love to share his work with our friends and visitors. We were absolutely thrilled to recently add 'Two Soldiers' to our collection." Christopher Cosier & Chris Webber, Sydney
"I purchased the original painting 10 years ago at your gallery during Mardi Gras and it has given me enormous pleasure ever since. I remember standing in the gallery for a couple of hours wondering if I should buy it. I have never regretted that decision." Jon Anderson and Lance Johnson, Palm Springs
"Your art hanging around our home provides us with such pleasure, and we can’t wait for A-Bay to join the Ross Watson family." Haydon Elliot and Greg Moses, Melbourne
